1911 United visits York to talk gun violence

The group is collecting information and volunteers to help reduce the amount of violence.

Members of the Obama Super PAC, 1911 United, stopped in York Tuesday to collect information about gun violence to lobby lawmakers and to encourage a grassroots campaign to stop it.

The 41-day bus tour stopped in Harrisburg and Lancaster as well Tuesday on its way to Chicago, where the 1911 United will spend 30 days, said Sinclair Skinner of 1911 United.

1911 United supported President Barack Obama candidacy and presidency, Skinner said. One of the president's key issues is combating gun violence, and 1911 United is going to is going to stay engaged with the issues. Members of Omega Psi Phi and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternities are participating.

"Pennsylvania is very relevant to national politics and policy," Skinner said. "So to come through here and make this one of the stops to talk about what we're doing, it's very relevant."

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Shelby Seaton, 22, of York held pictures of her father, Rodney Seaton, who was fatally shot just before Christmas in York. She said there should be more control over how youths are getting weapons. She also talked about how different sides in the city fight.

"There's a beef between sides, but they don't even know what they're even fighting for," she said.

Delores Abreu, bilingual case manager with Crispus Attucks Center for Employment & Training, told 1911 United that York needs more programs to engage the youth.

Sandra Thompson, president of the York Chapter of the NAACP, and the Rev. Anthony Sease, president of the Black Ministers' Association, pointed out some of the gun violence that has happened in York, including a shooting a McDonald's near City Hall.

Thompson and Sease took the representatives on a brief tour of one of the areas -- Pine and Walnut streets -- that has seen gun violence.

The bus stopped at a nearby shopping center, and members of the 1911 United and local leaders fanned out to talk to people and businesses and hand out signs saying "Love and Protect Our Children."

Shannon Griffith, 32, of York saw the bus with Obama's photo on it and walked over to see what was going on.

Members of 1911 United explained about the efforts to stop the violence, and Griffith said he signed up to help volunteer.

"I'm just tired of it," he said of the violence. "We've got to start somewhere."

In Chicago, which is a symbol of what is going on in America, a phone bank will be set up for people to call in on a website to support "Love and Protect Our Children," Skinner said.

At the end of the 41 days, Skinner said, he hopes to see a decrease in the amount of gun violence in Chicago compared to last June into July.